THE PRICE FOR THE DEAL

Ahem! He is indeed seriously asking for this, huh?


"One week? For what exactly? Or better still, why? You should..."

My lips are sealed by his finger on my lips, a gesture that stirs the butterflies in my belly. I don't know what they are celebrating, because they are flying all over my belly with ecstasy. What kind of charm does this guy possess? What kind of spark is this? I do not remember feeling this way, even for that idiot, Leo. Why am I even allowing him to affect me this way?

"As a way of thanking me for everything. You said you wanted to do something, right?"


Whoa!

I smirk at his words. Really? I slap his finger away from my lips, gathering my courage to challenge this devil. "Yes, and you clearly and boldly stated that I do not need..."


"To do a thing? But now I am asking you to do something!" He cuts me off, finishing the sentence for me.

This has to be either a serious joke or he is up to creeping the hell out of me in the one week he is asking. "What are you up to, Mr. Almeda? Because you are beginning to get on my nerves. What games are you playing?" I mumble with all honesty. He is annoyingly tickling my temper, and I don't want to unleash it on him.

He shrugs his shoulders, gesturing his innocence. "I want to be your company. A week to show you around the city and be your host. After that, I will leave you to continue your vacation in peace without my annoying face around."

Well, I am delighted that he realizes he is fucking annoying, well, not always, but I detest how he parades his pride in that though. Wait a minute, so this is about that stupid offer he made yesterday? He sure is so determined to pull all strings to get under my pants, including bearing with me for a whole week. How aggressive, huh? He sure knows how to play his cards well.

A week, huh! A week for me to be enjoying the sites during the day, and at night, I will be his site to explore and enjoy. To satisfy his desires.

"At the expense of what, if I may ask?" I ask just so to give him the benefit of the doubt because that idea is so unsettling. I should be preparing a slap to shut his damn mouth the moment he finishes the sentence. He needs to be taught a lesson, and I do not care if he beats me black and blue after. How can he ask for my body and my dignity as the price for just showing me around?

I drop my gaze at his sugary lips as they open to speak, giving me the honor of reading every single letter. "NOTHING!"

A moment of screaming silence passes with our eyes locked!

I am bathing in shock and disbelief. Nothing? Another way to lure me into his trap? He wants to make me believe that he will do all that for free. What kind of idiot does he think I am?

We lock eyes for a decade, our eyes scanning each other. Nobody speaks. I am stunned until he decides to bring me out of this shock as he speaks again.

"Absolutely nothing, Ellie!" He affirms, his voice tinged with bits of sincerity.

I don't understand him. I don't think I want to fall for this.

"I thought your services were not free. You had such a terrific deal yesterday. What's with the sudden change?" I challenge, and he takes a step back, wearing his crown of a smirk.

"That? You take things way too seriously, and it's not good. That was a harmless joke, but I can't refuse if you want us to go by that deal. I mean, you are as hot as fuck. It would be a life goal to have you warm my bed, even just for a day," He winks, a wide grin on his face that makes it shine so bright.

"You are such a jerk!" I curse.

"I know. Thank you. Now move this beautiful ass of yours upstairs and get changed. The seven days start now!"

What the hell?

I won't deny that the idea of me stepping out of this house is exciting. Heck! I haven't even seen the daylight since I walked in here. I haven't had time to tour any city since I was little. This is beyond ecstasy. It's overwhelming, but this guy, can I trust him? He is like a chameleon - one minute he seems so innocent as a baby and nice and sweet, or a pitiful troubled soul. But the next minute he is an uncontrollable drunkard, and then next he is a seductive flirt, a proud arrogant, and an annoying thorn in the ass.

Of all his personalities, I can only deal with one - the rare one that he is trying his best to hide. How can I handle all the other three, huh?

"Where exactly are we going?" I mumble, still unsure if I can stand him for this one week. I hope he won't be walking around with a bottle of whiskey whenever we go out. I might end up smashing the damn bottle on his head.

"Surprise."

Aha! There he goes again, arousing goosebumps in my belly with his weirdness. He can just stop being so...

"Having an undivided mind? Can't you stand me for a week?" He startles me.

We are so much different. We are like opposite poles. I highly doubt I can handle him, honestly, but I am willing to challenge him and myself too. Let's see how crazy this one week will be for us. I hope we will not strangle each other to death before it even ends.

"I can handle more than you ever can imagine," I offer him my right hand for a handshake to seal the deal. "I accept your offer." He shakes my hand, his touch sending electric shivers all over my body, but I try to shake off the feeling. I press his hand and show him my bitchy side. "And for that one week, you are gonna have to limit your alcohol consumption to at least a glass per day. And that is an order, Mr. Ameda! Any violation, and I will be out of this deal and out of this house!" I utter that loud enough, reading his face as it turns pale at my words.

His hand twitches in mine, and his eyes fire deadly glances at me. He opens his sweet mouth to speak, but I cut him off, pressing and hugging his hand tight in mine, "You have already sealed the deal, Mr Damian Almeda! You have no choice!" This time, as he searches my face, I give him a bitchy wink that sends his eyebrow up.